Horror accident delays World Cup stadium construction

Nov 30, 2013, 04:35 IST
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Goal.com

The Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo will not be completed on schedule following the deaths of two workers during a tragic incident on the site

A horror accident at one of the venues for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil has caused a two-month delay in the stadium's construction. A 1500-ton crane collapsed at Sao Paulo's Itaquerao Stadium on Wednesday, killing two workers, while a 400-ton piece of metal created a large hole in the east wing of the arena.

A number of Brazilian officials visited the site on Thursday and concluded that the accident is likely to delay the completion of the arena until February. Structural engineer Jorg Spangenberg told Bloomberg: "If the crane had collapsed another 20 degrees then it would've hit the main structure.

"Then it would've been impossible to finish the stadium before the World Cup, which would have been even more disastrous."

The stadium is set to host the opening game of the tournament on June 12 and Spangenberg remains confident that will still be the case, despite the setback.

"We are expecting a maximum delay of two months,” he continued. “We think it will be done by late February. "Everyone on site is saying we'll be able to do it. There's a six-month time buffer that Fifa asked for from the beginning of the tournament and we'll probably eat into two months of it."

The accident is believed to have occurred because the crane could not withstand the pressure and weight of the final piece of the roof which was being levered into position, though a definitive report has not yet been made.

Brazilian giants Corinthians will move into the stadium after the World Cup next summer.